EVALUATION OF COLD WATER AND VITAMIN C ON BROILER

GROWTH DURING HOT-DRY SEASON IN SW NIGERIA

EVALUACIÓN DEL AGUA FRÍA Y LA VITAMINA C SOBRE EL CRECIMIENTO DE
BROILERS EN LA ESTACIÓN CÁLIDA-SECA EN SW NIGERIA

Abioja, M.O.1, Osinowo, O.A.1, Smith, O.F.1, Eruvbetine, D.2 and Abiona, J.A.1

1
Department of Animal Physiology. College of Animal Science and Livestock Production. University of
Agriculture. Abeokuta. Nigeria.
2
Department of Animal Nutrition. College of Animal Science and Livestock Production. University of
Agriculture. Abeokuta. Nigeria.

ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS PALABRAS CLAVE ADICIONALES

Heat stress. Feed intake. Weight gain. Feed Estrés por calor. Ingestión de alimento. Ganacia de
conversion ratio. Spleen. Wings. Breast meat. peso. Índice de conversión. Bazo. Alas. Pechuga.

SUMMARY
A study to determine effects of cold water and
vitamin C on growth performance in 216 Anak
2000 broiler chickens was carried out during hot-
dry season in the SW Nigeria. The minimum,
maximum and mean temperatures during the
experiment were 19.4, 35.8 and 27.6ºC respectively
while the relative humidity was 72.6%. The broilers,
Anak 2000 at d 28 were allotted to two groups
offered either ordinary water (29.5ºC) or chilled
water (8.0ºC) for four weeks. Each group was
divided into two. Each half received either 0 or 500
mg vitamin C per litre in drinking water in 2 x 2
factorial arrangement. There were 3 replicates
with 18 birds per replicate. Data on daily water
intake (DWI), weekly feed intake (WFI), final
liveweight (FLW), weekly weight gain (WWG),
total weight gain (TWG), feed conversion ratio
(FCR), percentage survival (SURV), and relative
weights of breast meat, liver, spleen, gizzard,
drumstick, thigh, heart and wing were subjected
to analysis of variance. Water temperature had no
significant effect on DWI, WFI, FCR and SURV.
However, offering broiler chickens cold drinking
water resulted in significantly higher WWG
(p<0.001), TWG (p<0.001), FLW (p<0.001) and
relative weight of spleen (p<0.001) compared to
water at ambient temperature. Addition of 500 mg
vitamin C per litre water increased significantly the
relative weights of breast meat compared to 0 mg
vitamin C. Other parameters were affected by
vitamin C. There were not interaction between
water temperature and addition of vitamin C on
growth parameters examined in this study. It can
therefore be concluded that offering cold water to
broiler chickens during hot-dry season increases
weight gain and spleen but reduced wing size.
Though addition of vitamin C could not raised
growth rate in broilers during hot-dry season, the
breast meat yield was improved.
RESUMEN
Durante la estación cálida-seca en el SW de
Nigeria se realizó un estudio para determinar los
efectos del agua fría y la vitamina C sobre el
crecimiento de 216 broilers Anak 2000. Las tem-
peraturas mínima, media y máxima durante el
experimento fueron 19,4; 35,8 y 27,6ºC respecti-
vamente y la humedad relativa fue de 72,6%. El día
28, los pollos fueron divididos en dos grupos a los
que se suministró agua a temperatura normal
(29,5ºC) o agua enfriada (8,0ºC) durante cuatro
semanas. Cada grupo fue dividido en dos, reci-
biendo cada mitad 0 o 500 mg de vitamina C por litro
de agua de bebida en un diseño factorial 2 x 2 se
realizaron tres repeticiones con 18 aves por
repetición. Los datos sobre ingestión diaria de
agua (DWI), ingestión semanal de alimento (WFI),

Recibido: 11-5-10. Aceptado: 8-11-10. Arch. Zootec. 60 (232): 1095-1103. 2011.

 ABIOJA, OSINOWO, SMITH, ERUVBETINE AND ABIONA
peso vivo final (FLW), ganancia de peso semanal
(WWG), ganacia total de peso (TWG), tasa de
conversión de alimento (FCR), porcentaje de su-
pervivencia (SURV) y pesos relativos de pechu-
ga, hígado, bazo, molleja, pata, muslo, corazón y
ala, fueron sometidos al análisis de varianza. La
temperatura del agua no tuvo efecto significativo
sobre DWI, WFI, FCR y SURV. Sin embargo el
consumo de agua fría por los pollos se tradujo en
un aumento WWG (p<0,001), TWG (p<0,001),
FLW (p<0,001) y peso relativo del bazo (p<0,001)
en comparación con el consumo de agua a tempe-
ratura ambiente. La adición de 500 mg de vitamina
C por litro de agua incrementó significativamente
el peso relativo de la pechuga, comparado con el
suministro de 0 mg de vitamina C. Otras variables
fueron influenciadas por la vitamina C. No se
registró interacción entre la temperatura del agua
y la vitamina C sobre los parámetros de crecimien-
to examinados en este estudio. Puede concluirse
que el suministro de agua fría a los pollos durante
la estación cálida-seca aumenta la ganacia de
peso y del hígado, pero redujo el tamaño del ala.
Aunque la adición de vitamina C no aumentó la tasa
de crecimiento en broilers durante la estación
cálida-seca, el rendimiento de la pechuga mejoró.
INTRODUCTION
Chickens belong to a class of animals
that regulate body temperature within a
narrow range (Genç, 2005). This is only
possible as long as they are maintained
within their thermal comfort zone in ambient
temperature. When the ambient temperature
overshoot the thermal comfort zone, as the
case commonly experienced in the tropical
environment, the birds depends on panting
and other behavioural responses to
dissipate body heat. They lack sweat glands
as in ruminant animals. There is conse-
quential reduction in voluntary feed intake,
so as to limit metabolic heat production (Hai
et al., 2000) in order to lower the metabolic
heat production. Moreover, they divert
energy and other nutrients intended for
growth, immunity and reproduction to
thermoregulation, thereby limiting their
productivity (Brake, 1987). Commercial
broilers are more susceptible to heat stress
Archivos de zootecnia vol. 60, núm.232, p. 1096.
because they depend on high feed intake
and the inferior development of their
respiratory and cardio-vascular systems
compared with rate of growth (Yahav, 2000).
Therefore heat-stressed broilers had
retarded growth (Temim et al., 2000; Oskan
et al., 2003; Abu-Dieyeh, 2006). This effect
is more pronounced during the growing
phase. To obtain optimal productivity in
hot environment therefore, some mana-
gement techniques have to be put in place
to reduce the effects.
South-western Nigeria is located in the
humid tropics, characterized by high am-
bient temperature of >30ºC (Abioja, 2005;
Abioja et al., 2010) during hot-dry months
(mid-January to mid-April). Wilson and
Edward (1952) proposed that offering cold
water to chickens could reduce adverse
effects of heat stress. Broiler chickens grew
faster (Harris et al., 1975) and had higher
gain/feed ratio (Beker and Teeter, 1994) when
given cold water under heat stress
conditions. Similarly, Lofgreen et al. (1975)
also reported that cold water improved daily
weight gain in beef cattle. However, Okelo
et al. (2003) reported that cold water had no
effect on liveweight gain, feed/gain ratio
and carcass yield. Many poultry handlers in
Nigeria have been using crushed iced cubes
to cool water to birds during hot periods.
However, efficacy of this practice has not
been scientifically proved in Nigeria. Dietary
supplementation with vitamin C has been
reported to be efficient in reducing effects
of heat stress in chickens (Pardue et al.,
1985; Pardue and Thaxton, 1986; Sahin, 2003;
Mahmoud et al., 2004). Combining chilled
water with vitamin C may be more useful.
Therefore, this study is aimed at determining
the effects of chilled water and addition of
vitamin C to drinking water on growth per-
formance in growing broiler chickens.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Location: The study was carried out at
Poultry Unit of University Teaching and
 EVALUATION OF COLD WATER AND VITAMIN C ON BROILER GROWTH
Research Farms of University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta, Nigeria (latitude 7º 13’ 49.46" N;
longitude 3º 26’ 11.98" E; altitude 76 m
above sea level; Google Earth, 2006).
Meteorological conditions: Daily mini-
mum, maximum and mean temperature,
relative humidity and wet- and dry-bulb
temperature were monitored at the level of
the birds in the pens throughout the expe-
rimental period. Temperature-humidity index
(THI) was calculated using the formula of
Palmer (2000) as:
THI= -42.4+2.05(T)+10.14(R)-0.225(TxR)-6.84
(10 -3 xT 2 )-5.48(10 -2 xR 2 )+1.23(10 -3 xT 2 xR)+
8.53(10-4xTxR2)-1.99(10-6xT2xR2)
where,
T: dry air temperature;
R: relative humidity.
Experimental birds and management:
Day-old broiler chicks of Anak 2000 strain
were purchased from a reputable hatchery
in Abeokuta, Nigeria early February of year
2009 and brooded for three weeks on wood-
shaving floor. They were given fresh water
always and fed ad libitum with a standard
diet containing 46% maize, 18.5% soybean
meal, 15% groundnut cake, 2% fishmeal,
12.45% wheat offal, 2% bonemeal, 3% oyster
shell, 0.25% salt, 0.25% premix, 0.3%
methionine and 0.25 lysine. The birds were
transferred to the deep-litter floor experi-
mental pens where they were allowed a week
for adjustment. The stocking density was
18 kg per 2 m2.
The broilers at d28 were allotted to two
groups each offered either water at ambient
temperature (29.5ºC) or chilled water (8.0ºC)
for four weeks. Each group was divided into
two homogenised by liveweight. Each half
received either 0 or 500 mg vitamin C per
litre in drinking water in 2 x 2 factorial
arrangement. There were 3 replicates with
18 birds per replicate. Water for the ex-
periment was solely sourced from a single
well on the farm and supplied in nipple
Archivos de zootecnia vol. 60, núm. 232, p. 1097.
drinker lines linked to either water reservoir
(for water at ambient temperature) or a
refrigerating unit (for cold water). There
was a pump to return the water from the lines
to the refrigerating unit. The temperature
of water was recorded by 08.00, 12.00 and
16.00 h daily.
Data collection and analyses: Records
of daily water intake (DWI), weekly weight
gain (WWG), feed intake (WFI) and
percentage survival (SURV) in each replicate
were taken throughout the experimental
period. Percentage survival was calculated
as: (number of birds that survive at the end
of week ÷ total number of birds at the
beginning of each week) x 100. The final
liveweight (FLW) of the birds was taken at
d56 as a group with the aid of a sensitive
scale. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was
calculated as ratio of feed to weight gain. On
d56, three birds from each replicate were
randomly selected and sacrificed by
exsanguinations. Liveweight, slaughter
weight, dressed weight and weights of breast
meat, liver, spleen, gizzard, drumstick, thigh,
heart and wing were taken. Relative weights
of the organs were calculated as organs
weight divided by liveweight multiplied by
100.
Data collected were analysed by method
of least squares of SYSTAT (1992) using
model:
Yijk=μ+Ti+Cj+TCij+Σijk
where,
Yijk= yield;
μ= population mean;
Ti= ith effect due to water temperature;
Cj= jth effect due to vitamin C;
TCij= ijth effect due to interaction between water
temperature and vitamin C and
Σijk= residual error.
RESULTS
The summary of the climatic conditions
during the experimental period is presented
in table I. Average dry-bulb temperature
 ABIOJA, OSINOWO, SMITH, ERUVBETINE AND ABIONA

II. Ordinary water was 29.5ºC while cold

Table I. Average daily values for meteo-
rological parameters observed during the water was 8.0ºC. Table III shows the effects
experimental period. (Valores medios diarios of water temperature and vitamin C on
para los parámetros meteorológicos registrados WWG, FLW, TWG between d28 and d56,
durante el periodo experimental). DWI, WFI and FCR. Temperature of drinking
water had significant (p<0.05) effect on
temperature (ºC) average WWG in the birds. Averagely birds
Week Min. Max. Mean RH THI offered cold water gained 0.26 kg/week while
bird on water at ambient temperature gained
5 20.1 36.6 28.4 68.4 163.7 0.2 kg/week. Addition of vitamin C did not
6 19.1 36.6 27.9 70.1 165.3
(p>0.05) affect WWG. Cold water signi-
7 18.7 34.9 26.8 73.2 167.1
8 19.7 35.4 27.6 78.9 166.6
ficantly increased FLW (p<0.05) and TWG
Av. 19.4 35.8 27.6 72.6 165.7 (p<0.05) compared with water at ambient
temperature. However, water temperature
WBT DBT RH THI had no significant (p>0.05) effect on DWI.
The FLW and TWG in broiler chickens that
5 25.9 27.9 83.0 185.0 received cold water were 1.529 and 1.028 kg/
8:00h

6 25.9 27.7 84.1 185.7 bird while the birds that received water at
7 26.4 27.8 88.0 182.1 ambient temperature recorded 1.450 and
8 26.6 28.3 85.5 180.2 0.944 kg/bird respectively. Addition of
Av. 26.2 27.9 85.2 183.2
vitamin C did not (p>0.05) affect FLW, TWG
5 28.0 35.6 53.7 142.4
and DWI. Water temperature and addition
of vitamin C to drinking water had no (p>0.05)
16:00h

6 28.2 35.3 56.0 145.0

7 27.8 33.9 58.4 152.2 effect on WFI and there was no interaction
8 30.3 34.1 72.3 153.0 between water temperature and vitamin C
Av. 28.6 34.7 60.1 148.1 on WFI of the broiler birds.
FCR was not affected (p>0.05) by water
RH: relative humidity (%); THI: Temp.-humidity temperature. The average FCR of birds
index; WBT: Wet-bulb temp. (ºC); DBT: Dry-bulb offered water with or without vitamin C was
temp. (ºC). similar (p>0.05).
Table IV shows effects of water tem-
and relative humidity were 27.9ºC, and 85.2% perature and vitamin C on relative weight
by 08.00 h, and 34.7ºC and, 60.1% by 16.00 of body and internal organs of broiler
h respectively. The temperature of both chickens reared during hot-dry season.
ordinary and chilled water is shown in table Water temperature had no effect (p>0.05) on

Table II. Average temperature (ºC) of water supplied to the birds during the experimental
period. (Temperatura media (ºC) del agua suministrada a las aves durante el periodo experimental).
ordinary water cold water
Week 08.00 h 12.00 h 16.00 h Average 08.00 h 12.00 h 16.00 h Average

5 27.1 30.3 31.7 29.7 8.1 8.3 7.7 8.0

6 26.9 30.4 31.6 29.6 7.4 7.3 6.3 7.0
7 27.2 29.8 31.4 29.5 8.4 6.1 5.6 6.7
8 27.4 29.7 31.2 29.4 11.3 10.0 8.9 10.4
Average 27.2 30.1 31.5 29.5 8.8 7.9 7.1 8.0

Archivos de zootecnia vol. 60, núm.232, p. 1098.

 EVALUATION OF COLD WATER AND VITAMIN C ON BROILER GROWTH

Table III. Effects of water temperature and vitamin C supplementation on final liveweight,
weight gain (kg/bird) and daily water intake (litres/bird) of broiler chickens reared during
hot-dry season. (Efecto de la temperatura del agua y de la suplementación con vitamina C, sobre el
peso vivo final, ganancia de peso (kg/ave) e ingestion diaria de de agua (litros por ave) de broilers criados
durante la estación cálida-seca).

water temperature vitamin C

Parameter Ord Cold ±SEM p -C +C ±SEM p

Initial liveweight @ 4 weeks of age (kg) 0.51 0.50 0.002 0.077 0.50 0.51 0.002 0.052
Final liveweight @ 8 weeks of age (kg) 1.45b 1.53a 0.024 0.047 1.45 1.53 0.024 0.134
Total weight gain (kg) 0.94b 1.03a 0.025 0.033 0.95 1.02 0.025 0.182
Weekly weight gain (kg/bird) 0.24b 0.26a 0.007 0.028 0.24 0.25 0.007 0.094
Daily water intake (l/bird) 0.22 0.21 0.032 0.868 0.21 0.22 0.032 0.737
Weekly feed intake (kg/bird) 0.76 0.74 0.033 0.709 0.74 0.76 0.033 0.604
Feed conversion ratio 3.32 2.94 0.184 0.162 3.17 3.09 0.184 0.750
Survival (%) 95.0 93.9 2.05 0.697 95.4 93.5 2.05 0.521

water temperature x vitamin C

Ord-C Ord+C Cold-C Cold+C ±SEM p

Initial liveweight @ 4 weeks of age (kg) 0.50 0.51 0.50 0.51 0.003 0.849
Final liveweight @ 8 weeks of age (kg) 1.44 1.46 1.47 1.59 0.034 0.335
Total weight gain (kg) 0.93 0.95 0.97 1.08 0.035 0.346
Weekly weight gain (kg/bird) 0.23 0.24 0.24 0.27 0.009 0.213
Daily water intake (l/bird) 0.21 0.23 0.20 0.22 0.045 0.989
Weekly feed intake (kg/bird) 0.73 0.79 0.75 0.73 0.046 0.366
Feed conversion ratio 3.22 3.41 3.12 2.77 0.261 0.301
Survival (%) 96.8 93.2 94.0 93.8 2.90 0.572

ab
Means in the same row with different superscripts differ significantly (p<0.05).
ORD-C= ordinary water (25-300C) without vitamin C supplementation; ORD+C= ordinary water (25-
300C) with vitamin C supplementation (0.5 g/litre water); COLD-C= cold water (5-100C) without vitamin
C supplementation; COLD+C= cold water (5-100C) without vitamin C supplementation (0.5 g/litre water).

slaughter weight, dressed weight and
relative weights of breast meat, liver, spleen,
gizzard, drumstick, thigh and heart. The
results show that broilers offered cold water
had bigger spleen (p<0.05) and smaller wing
(p<0.05) than birds on water at ambient
temperature respectively.
Addition of vitamin C to drinking water
of broiler chickens had no (p>0.05) effect on
slaughter weight, dressed weight and
relative weights of liver, spleen, gizzard,
drumstick, thigh, heart and wing. However,
breast meat yield differs significantly
(p<0.05) between birds that received 0 and
500 mg vitamin C per litre water. Addition of
500 mg vitamin C per litre drinking water
increased the size of breast meat in broiler
chickens.
DISCUSSION
Birds that were offered cold water gained
more weight and had higher final weight
than birds offered water at ambient
temperature. Howlider and Rose (1987) and
May et al. (2000) reported that growth rate
is reduced in broiler birds when environ-
mental temperature rises because energy

Archivos de zootecnia vol. 60, núm. 232, p. 1099.

 ABIOJA, OSINOWO, SMITH, ERUVBETINE AND ABIONA

obtained from the small feed consumed is
expended in panting. The result is that heat-
stressed birds had lower final body weight.
One of physiological response to heat stress
is the release of corticosterone from the
adrenals of chickens. Information con-
cerning the effects of corticosteroids simi-
lar to those produced under stress has
shown that corticosteroids in poultry can
cause decreased body weight gains (Gross
and Siegel, 1981). With cold water, the
effects of heat stress are ameliorated and so
the birds were able to gain more weight.
Broilers birds had been reported to have
faster growth rate when given cold water
under heat stress conditions (Harris et al.,
1975). In another experiment however, Okelo
et al. (2003) reported that cold water had no
effect on liveweight gain in broiler chickens.
Lofgreen et al. (1975) reported that British
cattle in hot environment consumed more
feed and gained more weight when given
water cooled to 18.3ºC compared to 32.2ºC.
White Rock broiler however showed no
effect of cooled drinking water on liveweight
gain (Degen et al., 1992). The present result
might be due to reduction in panting rate
of birds that received cold water and
maintenance of homeostasis in the birds
(Abioja, 2010).
Water temperature had no effect on water
intake, weekly feed intake and feed
conversion ratio. However, previous studies
proved that cooled drinking water stimulates
water intake (Janssen and Musharaf, 1984;
Puma et al., 2001; Butcher and Miles, 2003)
in both laying and broiler chickens. Glatz
(2001) reported that feed intake of Australian
tinted egg laying hens was improved by
cold water for the first four weeks of treatment
but thereafter, there was a decline in the
effectiveness of chilled water to stimulate
an increase in feed intake unlike the European
brown egg layers which had improved feed

Table IV. Effects of water temperature and vitamin C supplementation on relative weight of
body and internal organs (%) of broiler chickens reared during hot-dry season. (Efecto de
la temperatura del agua y la suplementación con vitamina C sobre el peso relativo del cuerpo y órganos
internos (%) de pollos broiler criados durante la estación cálida-seca).

water temperature vitamin C water temperature x vitamin C

*Parameter Ord Cold ±SEM -C +C ±SEM Ord-C Ord+C Cold-C Cold+C ±SEM

Live-weight (g) 1442 1398 19.2 1423 1417 19.2 1450 1433 1397 1400 27.2
Slaughter weight 96.9 95.4 1.31 95.2 97.0 1.31 96.1 97.6 94.3 96.4 1.86
Dressed weight 89.3 88.9 1.31 88.9 89.3 1.31 88.7 90.0 89.0 88.6 1.85
Breast meat 17.8 17.6 0.46 16.9b 18.5a 0.46 17.0 18.5 16.9 18.4 0.66
Liver 2.9 3.0 0.17 2.9 3.0 0.17 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.1 0.24
Spleen 0.12b 0.17a 0.013 0.14 0.14 0.013 0.13 0.10 0.15 0.18 0.019
Neck 3.4 3.2 0.16 3.2 3.4 0.16 3.3 3.5 3.2 3.3 0.23
Head 2.7 2.6 0.05 2.6 2.6 0.05 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.6 0.07
Leg 5.1 4.5 0.22 4.8 4.8 0.22 5.0 5.2 4.6 4.4 0.31
Gizzard 2.7 2.8 0.20 2.8 2.7 0.20 2.7 2.8 3.0 2.6 0.28
Drumstick 10.3 9.8 0.45 10.2 9.9 0.45 10.7 9.9 9.8 9.8 0.63
Thigh 10.4 10.1 0.38 10.2 10.4 0.38 10.8 10.1 9.6 10.6 0.53
Heart 0.51 0.53 0.028 0.53 0.50 0.028 0.53 0.48 0.53 0.52 0.040
Wing 8.1a 7.0b 0.31 7.7 7.4 0.31 8.0 8.3 7.5 6.6 0.43
Back 15.4 15.0 0.46 15.1 15.3 0.46 15.3 15.5 15.0 15.1 0.65

*Percentage of live-weight; a,bMeans with different superscripts in the same row differ significantly
(p<0.05).

Archivos de zootecnia vol. 60, núm.232, p. 1100.

 EVALUATION OF COLD WATER AND VITAMIN C ON BROILER GROWTH
intake throughout the 12 weeks experimen-
tal period. But Okelo et al. (2003) had earlier
stated that cooled water did not affect feed/
gain ratio in broiler chickens.
Addition of vitamin C had no effect on
weekly weight, total weight gain, final
liveweight and water intake in this study.
This is in contrast to the reports of Gross
(1988) and Mbajiorgu et al. (2007) that
addition of ascorbic acid to feed of poultry
increased weight gain. Sobayo (2005) also
reported that feeding growing pullets with
300g vitamin C/kg feed during dry season
resulted in better weight gain. Overall feed
conversion ratio was not affected by vitamin
C in broilers’ drinking water.
Neither water temperature nor addition
of vitamin C had effect on survival of broiler
chickens during hot-dry season. The reason
for this could not be ascertained because
percentage survival was similar for all groups
in all other weeks of experiment. The present
finding of non-significant effect of water
temperature on survival of broiler is contrary
to previous reports that chickens offered
cold drinking water had better survival rate
of (Fox, 1951; Miller and Sunde, 1975;
Janssen and Musharaf, 1984; Butcher and
Miles, 2003). However, it corroborates the
findings in an experiment with Cobb x Cobb
broilers offered water in the range 10.0ºC to
43.3ºC by Beker and Teeter (1994). There
was no difference in survivability, not even
when supplemented with 0.5% KCl. Okelo et
al. (2003) also reported no difference in
cumulative mortality of broilers given
drinking water of different temperatures.
Mortality was only lowered when the chilled
water was carbonated. However, it must be
borne in mind that breed, stress pattern and
bird acclimatization strongly impact on such
results. Other researchers adding different
substances such as CO2, NH4Cl, HCl, Teeter
(1994) had stated that efforts to increase
feed consumption of broiler chickens during
heat stress have been shown to decrease
survival (Teeter, 1994). In this study, the
chickens were not forced-fed and had simi-
Archivos de zootecnia vol. 60, núm. 232, p. 1101.
lar weekly feed intake (table IV). This may
explain the similarity in survivability of the
broilers.
Of the parts of the body and organs
observed, spleen and wing were affected by
water temperature. Cold water increased
relative weights of spleen and lowered the
wing compared with the birds offered water
at ambient temperature. Information
concerning the effects of corticosteroids
similar to those produced under stress has
shown that corticosteroids in poultry can
cause atrophy of the spleen (Gross and
Siegel, 1981; Rosales 1994). Spleen is an
organ that creates lymphocytes for the
destruction and recycling of old red-blood
cells. This enabled birds offered cold water
to cope with heat stress. Reduced wing will
also help in heat dissipation through
ventilation of the under skin. Cahaner (2008)
had reported benefits of reduced feathering
in heat dissipation in broilers. Reducing
wings may also help in combating effects of
heat stress in broiler chickens. Vitamin C
addition to drinking water of broiler chickens
increased relative weight of breast meat.
This in agreement with the report of
Mbajiorgu et al. (2007) that increasing
ascorbic acid supplementation increased
dressing percentage and breast meat yield
at 42 days old Ross 308 broilers. Hot
conditions negatively affect yield and
quality of broiler breast meat (Leenstra and
Cahaner, 1992; Sandercock et al., 2001).
This finding shows that with addition of
vitamin C to drinking water of broilers, this
effect of heat stress could be ameliorated.
CONCLUSION
Cold water increased weekly and total
weight gain, final liveweight and relative
weight of spleen but reduced the weight of
wings of broiler chickens compared with
birds that received water at ambient tempe-
rature during hot-dry season. Addition of
vitamin C to drinking water of broilers had
no effect on growth rate but increased breast
meat yield in broilers.
 ABIOJA, OSINOWO, SMITH, ERUVBETINE AND ABIONA
REFERENCES
Abioja, M.O. 2005. Physiological and haema-
tological responses of West African Dwarf and
Red Sokoto goats to water restriction in the
humid tropical condition of South-western
Nigeria. M. Agric. Dissertation. Department of
Animal Breeding and Genetics. University of
Agriculture. Abeokuta. Ogun. Nigeria. 78 pp.
Abioja, M.O. 2010. Temperature-humidity effects
on egg fertility and evaluation of vitamin C and
cold water on broiler growth in hot season. PhD
Thesis. Department of Animal Physiology.
University of Agriculture. Abeokuta. Nigeria.
165 pp.
Abioja, M.O., Osinowo, O.A., Adebambo, O.A.,
Bello, N.J. and Abiona, J.A. 2010. Water
restriction in goats during hot-dry season in the
humid tropics: feed intake and weight gain.
Arch. Zootec., 59: 195-203.
Abu-Dieyeh, Z.H.M. 2006. Effect of chronic heat
stress and long-term feed restriction on broiler
performance. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 5: 185-190.
Beker, A. and Teeter, R.G. 1994. Drinking water
temperature and potassium chloride supple-
mentation effects on broiler body temperature
and performance during heat stress. J. Appl.
Poult. Res. 3: 87-92.
Brake, J.T. 1987. Stress and modern poultry
management: animal production highlights. F.
Hoffman-La Roche & Co. Ltd. Basle. Switzerland.
Butcher, G.D. and Miles, R. 2003. Heat stress
management in broilers. IFAS Extension.
University of Florida. USA VM65: 1-3.
Cahaner, A. 2008. Breeding broilers for hot
conditions. Nig. Poult. Sci. J., 5: 156-163.
Degen, A.A., Kam, M. and Rosenstrauch, A. 1992.
Effect of restricted cooled drinking water on the
performance of broiler breeder hens in a hot,
dry climate. Brit. Poult. Sci., 33: 917-924.
Fox, T.L. 1951. Studies on heat tolerance in the
domestic fowl. Poult. Sci., 30: 477-483.
Genç, L. 2005. Sensible and latent heat productions
from broilers in laboratory conditions. Turkey J.
Vet. Anim. Sci., 29: 635-643.
Glatz, P.C. 2001. Effect of cool drinking water on
production and shell quality of laying hens in
summer. Anim. Sci., 14: 850-854.
Google Earth. 2006. http://www.google.earth (01/
28/10).
Archivos de zootecnia vol. 60, núm.232, p. 1102.
Gross, W. B. 1988. Effect of ascorbic acid on the
mortality of Leghorn-type chickens due to
overheating. Avian Dis., 32: 561-562.
Gross, W.B. and Siegel, P.B. 1981. Long-term
exposure of chickens to three levels of social
stress. Avians, 25: 312-325.
Hai, L., Rong, D. and Zhang, Z.Y. 2000. The effect
of thermal environment on the digestion of
broilers. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr., 83: 57-
64.
Harris, G.C., Nelson, G.S., Seay, R.L. and Dodgen,
W.H. 1975. Effects of drinking water temperature
on broiler performance. Poult. Sci., 54: 775-
779.
Howlider, M.A.R. and Rose, S.P. 1987. Temperature
and the growth of broilers. World’s Poult. Sci.
J., 43: 228-237.
Janssen, W.M.M.A. and Musharaf, N.A. 1984.
Effects of water temperature and feed density
on the performance of laying hens kept under
thermal stress. Proc. International Poultry
Conference. Frankfurt. Germany. pp. 1-12.
Leenstra, F. and Cahaner, A. 1992. Effects of low,
normal and high temperatures on slaughter yield
of broilers from lines selected for high weight
gain, favourable feed conversion and high and
low fat content. Poult. Sci., 71: 1994-2006.
Lofgreen, G.P., Given, R.L., Morrison, S.R. and
Bond, T.E. 1975. Effect of drinking water
temperature on beef cattle performance. J.
Anim. Sci., 40: 223-229.
Mahmoud, K.Z., Edens, F.W., Eisen, E.J. and
Havenstein, G.B. 2004. Ascorbic acid decrea-
ses heat shock protein 70 and plasma
corticosterone response in broilers (Gallus
gallus domesticus) subjected to cyclic heat
stress. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B, 137: 35-42.
May, J.D., Lott, B.D. and Simmons, J.D. 2000.
The effect of air velocity on broiler performance
and feed and water consumption. Poult. Sci.,
79: 1396-1400.
Mbajiorgu, C.A., Ng’ambi, J.W. and Norris, D.
2007. Effect of time of initiation of feeding after
hatching and influence of dietary ascorbic acid
supplementation on productivity, mortality and
carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler
chickens in South-Africa. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 6:
583-591.
 EVALUATION OF COLD WATER AND VITAMIN C ON BROILER GROWTH
Miller, P.C. and Sunde, M.L. 1975. The effect of
precise constant and cyclic environments on
shell quality and other lay performance factors
with leghorn pullets. Poult. Sci. 54: 36-46.
Okelo, P.O., Carr, L.E., Harrison, P.C., Douglass,
L.W., Byrd, V.E., Wabeck, C.W., Schreuders,
P.D., Wheaton, F.W. and Zimmermann, N.G.
2003. Trans. ASAE, 46: 453-460.
Oskan, S., Akbas, Y., Altan, O., Ayhan, V. and
Ozkan, K. 2003. The effect of short-term fasting
on performance of traits and rectal temperature
of broilers during the summer season. Brit.
Poult. Sci., 44: 88-95.
Palmer, C. 2000. Humidity formulas. Today’s
Information Network, USA. www.humidity.com
(12/05/03).
Pardue, S.L. and Thaxton, J.P. 1986. Ascorbic acid
in poultry: a review. World’s Poult. Sci. J., 42:
107-123.
Pardue, S.L., Thaxton, J.P. and Brake, J. 1985.
Role of ascorbic acid in chicks exposed to high
environmental temperature. J. Appl. Physiol.,
58: 1511-1516.
Puma, M.C., Xin, R.S., Gates, R.S. and Ahn, D.U.
2001. Effects of drinking water temperature
on laying hens subjected to warm cyclic envi-
ronmental conditions. In: Stowell, R. R., Bucklin,
R. and Bottcher, R. W. (Eds.). Livestock environ-
ment. Proc. 6th Int. Symp. May 21-23. Louisville.
Kentucky. pp. 235-243.
Rosales, A.G. 1994. Managing heat stress in
broiler breeders: a review. J. Appl. Poult. Res.,
Archivos de zootecnia vol. 60, núm. 232, p. 1103.
3: 199-207.
Sahin, K. 2003. Effects of chromium and ascorbic
acid supplementation on growth, carcass traits,
serum metabolites and antioxidant status of
broiler chickens reared at a high ambient
temperature (32ºC). Nutr. Res., 23: 225-238.
Sandercock, D.A., Hunter, R.R., Nute, G.R. and
Mitchell, M.A. 2001. Acute heat stress induced
alterations in blood acid base status and skeletal
muscle membrane in broiler chickens at two
ages: implication for meat quality. Poult. Sci.,
80: 418-425.
Sobayo, R.A. 2005. Effect of ascorbic acid
supplementation on the performance and
haematological profile of pullets and layers. PhD
thesis. Department of Animal Nutrition. Univer-
sity of Agriculture. Abeokuta. Nigeria. 214 pp.
SYSTAT 1992. Systat analytical computer packa-
ge (version 5.0). Systat Inc. USA.
Teeter, R. G. 1994. Optimizing production of heat
stressed broilers. Poult. Dig., 5: 10-16.
Temim, S., Chagneau, A.M., Guillaumin, S., Michael,
J., Peresson, R. and Tesseraud, S. 2000. Does
excess dietary protein improve growth perfor-
mance and carcass characteristics in heat-
exposed chickens? Poult. Sci., 79: 312-317.
Wilson, W.O. and Edwards, W.H. 1952. Response
of hen’s thermal stress to hydration and chilled
drinking water. Amer. J. Physiol., 169: 102-107.
Yahav, S. 2000. Domestic fowl: strategies to
confront environmental conditions. Av. Poult.
Biol. Rev., 11: 81-95.